On the way to Pickering Point, once you've passed the narrow neck centred around lookout 4, it is not a good idea to walk along the middle of the plateau as the scrub is very thick there ... That was what we found out to our dismay :-)

On the return leg, we were wiser. We walked along the cliff edges, passing lookouts 2 and 3 ... much easier walking that way :-)

Satellite image of the above map:

Summary of our route:
- Start from Long Gully Campground by the south bank of Yadboro River, Budawang National Park.
- Cross Yadboro River into Morton National Park
- Walk on Byangee Trail to Castle Gap.
- Then to the north-western side of Byangee Mountain.
- Climb up the cliffs to the plateau.
- To logbook box.
- Then to Pickering Point ... our ultimate destination
- Return to car.

Timeline & Distance

07:10 0.0 km Start walking from Long Gully Campground
07:54 2.4 km At where firetrail ends; and the start of a foot track

17:14 15.65km Resume walking
17:18 15.8 km At firetrail; same spot as at 07:54
17:55 18.25km Back at Long Gully Campground

==============================================

Total: 10 hrs 45 mins
18.25 km Distance is from Google Earth

Pictures - Long Gully Campground

Starting point of our walk is Long Gully Campground by the south bank of Yadboro River, Budawang National Park.

1) We are on our way to Byangee Mountain ... now looking back at Long Gully Campground.
- Yellow arrow: Direction of walk to the mountain
- David and I camped at the campground the night before. His car is on the left.
- Frank's car is on the right. He arrived from Kiama early this morning.

Yadboro River

2) First thing is to cross Yadboro River from Budawang National Park to Morton National Park. Yadboro River forms the boundary between the two National Parks.
- Upper pic: Left to right: David, Frank
- Lower pic: Frank ... Photograph taken in the afternoon on the return leg

Byangee Trail

3) After crossing Yadboro River, Frank leads us along Byangee Trail.
- Upper left: Initially Byangee Trail is a firetrail.
- Upper right: When close to the cliffs of The Castle, the trail narrows.
- Lower pics: When closer still to the cliffs, it becomes an indistinct rough foot track.

4) The southern most tip of The Castle escarpment
- Yellow arrows: Our route along an indistinct rough foot track

Along base of escarpment of The Castle

Then it is to Castle Gap by walking along the base of the cliffs on the south side of The Castle.
(Castle Gap is the saddle between The Castle and Byangee Mountain.)

5) Plenty of caves along the cliffs ~~~
This whole area used to be under the sea. It is subsequently lifted up above the water. Hence the rocks here are sedimentary rocks called Conglomerate.
- Upper pic: One of the caves
- Lower pic: This photograph is taken much later ... after passing Cathedral Cave (photos #7 to #10)

6) The walk is not easy, plenty of awkward scrambles.

Cathedral Cave

7) We come to Cathedral Cave. Actually it is more like a tunnel rather than a cave, as you enter from one opening and exit out of the opposite side.
(You need to do a slight detour to reach the cave. On the return leg, we'll bypass it.)
- Left pic: Entrance into the cave ... you can see Frank has already ducked in.
- Right pic: Inside the cave and looking back at the entrance

8) Inside Cathedral Cave ~~~
- Upper pic: David is entering the cave ... more like dropping into the cave :-)
- Lower pic: left to right: David, Frank

9) We exit the cave this way.

10) The 2 pics below are taken at the same spot, just outside Cathedral Cave ~~~
- Upper pic: Looking back at the cave
- Lower pic: Facing forward ... Frank is leading

To Castle Gap

Continuing towards Castle Gap along the base of the cliffs on the south side of The Castle ...

11) ... We come to a tree (white oval) with interesting branches.
Morning tea is near this tree.

12) Continuing along the base of the cliffs on the south side of The Castle

13) Caves along the base of the cliffs on the south side of The Castle

14) More caves

Castle Gap

15) At western end of Castle Gap, looking back at the south-eastern tip of the escarpment of The Castle

16) Walking along Castle Gap towards Byangee Mountain ~~~
- Upper pic: David is in front
- Lower pic: At this time of the year, an abundance of white Flannel Flowers around this area.

From the tall rock pillar of the previous pic, back track for 50 meters to ...

25) ... to this point where will climb up the cliffs of Byangee Mountain ... Follow the yellow arrows.

26) Not long after climbing up (previous pic), we encounter a fixed rope to help us.
- Frank climbs up through the right side of the log. Next, I'll climb up through the left side.
- The red rope seems to be very new. I reckon had we been here a few week ago, the rope may not be here :-)
- Lower right pic: How the rope is anchored to a tree

30) Then another brand new red rope ~~~
- Frank demonstrates how to climb up the big boulder :-)

31) I have climbed up the big boulder, now watching David climbing up.
- The big boulder and the smaller rock in this pic are the same as the ones in the previous pic.

32) Immediately after the big boulder, there is another rock to climb up, with the assistance of 2 fixed ropes.
- In these pics, I'm watching David climbing up.

33) After the fixed ropes, still more steep scrambles ~~~
- Upper pics: Frank leading
- Lower pic: Looking back at David climbing up

Along ledge to tunnel

By now, we've done most of the hard climbing :-)

34) Impressive cliffs here ~~~
- Yellow arrow: Direction of our walk ... It is along a ledge, a respite from the steep scrambles of the previous pics :-)

35) Still walking along a ledge (heading towards a tunnel) ~~~
- Lower pic: As usual, Frank is leading.

Tunnel

36) A short tunnel formed by a big rock fallen on top of the end of a narrow passage up the cliffs.
- Left pic: This is taken in the afternoon on the return leg. A hiker in blue has gone inside.
- Right pic: In the morning, Frank is leading us into it.

37) At the other end of the tunnel, and looking back ~~~
- To exit the tunnel, One needs to climb up to the opening from inside.

At Byangee Mountain plateau

38) After the tunnel, some more gentler climbs, and we are up at the north-west part of the plateau of Byangee Mountain.

40) Panorama from the top of the rock in photo #38 ~~~
- Upper pic: (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
• 4 red arrows from left to right:
1 Darri Head
2 Castle Head (Not to be confused with The Castle)
3 Warre Head
4 Talaterang Mountain ... north-east-ish
• Yellow arrow: The way we climb up to where we are now.
• Cyan arrows: Clyde River
• Purple arrow: Cooyoyo Creek
• Hollands Creek flows between Darri Head & Castle Head
- Middle pic: (Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• Red arrow: Direction to Pickering Point, our ultimate destination
(Pickering Point can't be seen from here.)
- Lower pic: (Continuation to the right of the middle pic)
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic is photo #39, thus completing a 360-degree panorama.

To lookout 1

We now head to lookout 1 ... at the southern cliffs on the north-western part of Byangee Mountain.

41) Along the way, I snap the 2 pics below which form a 200-degree panorama ~~~
- Upper pic:
• 2 red lines from left to right:
1 The Castle
2 Shrouded Gods Mountain
• Red arrow: Castle Head
• Cyan arrow: Clyde River
- Lower pic: (Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• David is on the left edge.
• 4 red arrows from left to right:
1 Warre Head
2 Talaterang Mountain ... north-east-ish
3 Direction to Pickering Point, our ultimate destination
(Pickering Point can't be seen from here.)
4 Pigeon House ... south-east
• Cyan arrows: Clyde River

43) We come to a rocky area by the edge of a cliff.
- Red arrow: Pigeon House
- Red circle: I'll be standing there taking photos #44 and #45.

44) 180-degree panorama centred towards south ... Photographs taken from the red circle in the previous pic ~~~
- Upper pic:
• Red arrow: Pigeon House ... towards south-west
• Green areas near the centre of the pic: Yadboro Flat
- Lower pic: (Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• Red arrow: South-eastern end of the lower escarpment of The Castle
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic is photo #45.

45) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Left to right: David, Frank
- The Castle is the main feature in the background.

At where logbook is kept

46) Frank leads us to a green-ish-grey-ish metal box where a logbook is kept. (To enlarge the image, click on it.)
- This place is about 150 meters to the east of lookout 1 ... photo #43.
- It is also the highest point of Byangee Mountain, about 525 meters above sea level.
- Continuation to the right of this pic is photo #47. In fact, this pic and photo #47 form a 360-degree panorama.

47) Panorama from where the logbook is kept ~~~
- Upper pic: (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Middle pic: (Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• 2 red lines from left to right:
1 The Castle
2 Shrouded Gods Mountain
- Lower pic: (Continuation to the right of the middle pic)
• 2 red arrows from left to right:
1 Warre Head
2 Talaterang Mountain ... north-east
• Clyde River flows in the valley to the left of Warre Head.
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic is photo #46, thus completing a 360-degree panorama.

54) A panorama ~~~
- Upper pic: (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
• 4 red arrows from left to right:
1 Darri Head
2 Castle Head
3 Warre Head
4 Talaterang Mountain ... north-east
• Cyan arrows: Clyde River
• David is looking back at The Castle ... previous pic
- Middle pic: (Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• Red arrow: Pigeon House
• Yellow arrow: We are going to walk along it.
- Lower pic: (Continuation to the right of the middle pic)
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic is photo #53, thus completing a 360-degree panorama.

55) Lovely view along the way ~~~
- 2 red arrows from left to right:
1 Pickering Point, our ultimate destination at the south-eastern end of Byangee Mountain
2 Pigeon House

56) 180-degree panorama at one of the Byangee Mountain cliff edges (To enlarge the image, click on it.) ~~~
- Red arrow: Pigeon House just poking its top above the foreground cliff
- Flat areas at the centre of the pic: Yadboro Flat ... towards south-ish.
- You can see Clyde River meandering thorough Yadboro Flat.

57) Turtle-like rocks

58) Some of the rock pools have tadpoles.

59) We have been walking along the middle of Byangee Mountain. In retrospect, when closer to Pickering Point, it is not a good choice ... as it is heavy duty scrub-bashing as seen in this pic.
On the return leg, we will be wiser and will hug along the edge of the cliffs ... less scrub that way.

Pickering Point

60) After 5 hrs 45 mins of walking from Long Gully Campground, we reach Pickering Point !
(Strictly speaking, Pickering Point is another 150 meters to the east. But this cliff edge is just as good as any place around here.)
- Upper pic:
• Left to right: David, Frank
• Red arrow: Pigeon House
• 3 White arrows, left to right: Berry Head, Hume Head, Davison Head
- Lower pic:
• Red arrow: Pigeon House
• 3 White arrows, left to right: Berry Head, Hume Head, Davison Head
• Cyan arrows: Clyde River
• Pink arrow: Dithol Creek

61) Top to bottom: Me, David and Frank
- Red arrow: Pigeon House
- 3 White arrows, left to right:
1 Berry Head
2 Hume Head
3 Davison Head
- Cyan arrows: Clyde River
- Pink arrow: Dithol Creek
- Landslide Creek flows in the valley immediately to the left of Berry Head.

62) 180-degree panorama from Pickering Point (To enlarge the image, click in it.)
- Red arrow: Pigeon House
- 4 White arrows, left to right:
1 Berry Head
2 Hume Head
3 Davison Head
4 Longfella Pass
- Cyan arrows: Clyde River
- Pink arrow: Dithol Creek
- Landslide Creek flows in the valley immediately to the left of Berry Head.
- Flat areas near right edge of the pic: Yadboro Flat
- Continuation to the right of this pic is photo #63.

63) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Blue arrow: How we reached here ... from the north
- Yellow arrow: The way we'll leave ... towards west
- Flat areas on left edge of the pic: Yadboro Flat

Flora around Pickering Point

A variety of plants are around Pickering Point ...

64) Wonder what plant is this ?
- White square: The cones there are enlaged in the lower right pic.

65) Leptospermum, Tea Tree, but which species ?

66) Wonder what plant is this ?

67) Wonder what plant is this ?

68) Isopogon anemonifolius, Broad-leaf Drumstick

69) Isopogon anethifolius, Narrow-Leaf Drumsticks

70) Cone of Isopogon anethifolius, Narrow-Leaf Drumsticks

Lookout 2 (Return leg)

71) On the return leg back to the car, we come to lookout 2 at the south-west corner of Byangee Mountain.
- Red arrow: Pigeon House
- 3 White arrows, left to right:
1 Hume Head ... towards south-east-ish
2 Davison Head
3 Longfella Pass
- Cyan arrows: Clyde River
- Pink arrows: Dithol Creek
- Continuation to the right of this pic is photo #72.

72) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
Panorama from south-west corner of Byangee Mountain ~~~
- Flat areas on left half of the pic: Yadboro Flat ... towards south-west
- Cyan arrows: Clyde River
- Pink arrow: Yadboro River
- Frank tries to see whether there is a way along the cliff edge. No. So we scrub-bashed towards the right edge ... Refer to photo #73.

73) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
We scrub-bash towards the top of the rise ... towards north.

Lookout 3

74) (To enlarge the image, click on it.)
Not far after climbing over the rise of the previous pic, we come to another lookout.
- Red arrow: Southern tip of Mt Owen
- Flat areas ... main feature of this pic: Yadboro Flat ... towards south-west
- Cyan arrows: Clyde River flowing through Yadboro Flat
- Pink arrow: Yadboro River
- Continuation to the right of this pic is photo #75.

75) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
A very nice view of the Byangee plateau and the background mountains.
- 4 red lines from left to right:
1 Southern part of Mt Owen
2 The Castle
3 Mt Mooryan
4 Shrouded Gods Mountain
- Yellow arrow: The way we'll walk along Byangee plateau to the small yellow dot
- Small yellow dot: North-western tip of Byangee Mountain (Photos #38, #39, #40 were taken there.)
Near there, we climbed up the Byangee cliffs this morning. We'll climb down that way too.